Fisherman's body found; foul play not suspected

LORAIN — Authorities suspect a man whose body was found in Lake Erie on Wednesday morning died of drowning.

Robert White, 58, of Oberlin Avenue, was found in the water just east of the Hot Waters Bait and Fishing Store, according to a police report.

White’s family called police just after 6 a.m. Wednesday to report that he had left home to go night fishing about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and never returned home.

The family and friends checked the area of Hot Waters on Wednesday morning, according to police, because that was where White normally fished. They found his vehicle in the upper parking area, according to police, and saw his tackle box near the water.

When police arrived, several of White’s family members and friends pointed to the area where they saw a body in the water. Police found White face down in the water, according to the police report, and he appeared to have been in the water for some time.

Detectives were called, and White’s body was recovered from the lake by the Lorain Fire Department and Lorain Marine Patrol.

Lorain police Detective Buddy Sivert also said it appears the drowning was accidental.

“We don’t suspect anything, but we’re obviously still investigating,” Sivert said. “Preliminarily it looks like this was probably an accident.”

White’s daughter, Bobbie Amador, said White was a good father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He had three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and was married to Terrie White, Amador said.

White was retired from manufacturing, Amador said, and he loved dogs, cooking out, family time and listening to all kinds of music.

“He went out for a night of fishing like he would,” Amador said. “He had an accident and fell. He was just a good man who enjoyed fishing.”